Has anyone worked abroad as a nurse?

[Whatwouldyoudo22]

I'm a nurse in mid to late 20s. With very itchy feet!! I want to go and do something completely different like be a nurse on a cruise ship or nurse in a completely different country but I don't know where to start!! Has anyone done anything like this? Also I've posted this on chat because I didn't know where else to!!

Hi!

I am also a nurse, I’ve never worked abroad but am friends with nurses who have and also started the process to go to Canada (then met a boy🙄.) It depends if you want to go with an agency. If you do, they can help with job and accommodation but you then may be tied into a contract with a hospital.

You will need registration (like the nmc) in the country you are going to and lots require an English language profiency exam- even if you are coming from the UK. Australia requires this and I think so does Canada. To work in the US you need to pass a licensing exam.

This sounds like a lot but so many nurses do it, it’s just a faff with paperwork! The RCN have international jobs advertised in the back of the monthly journal or online, or there are many recruitment companies. Would you work in an Arabic country? It’s good pay but a very different way of nursing, much less autonomy. Do you speak any other languages- in which case Europe might be an option? I had a colleague who worked as a nurse at a ski resort, one who worked for Project Raleigh and several who work intermittently for charities - there are so many options.

Sorry this is a bit muddled but basically look on the rcn/online for interesting jobs or pick a country and see what the registration requirements are! Hope this is somewhat useful and good luck 😉

Yes me, cruise ship Nursing you will need a and e and or icu experience. There are agencies that specialise in overseas placements, all the big ones advertise in the nursing times. The Middle East is well paid. Australia Nz, America and Canada all need you to be able to register in their countries which can be a faff. Agencies can help with this.

@gaia I really like the idea of cruise ship nursing, can you tell me more about it? I have 16 months A&E experience, do you think that would be enough?

I’m interested in this! About to start my degree and am interested in maybe going abroad, probably Canada once qualified

@Whatwouldyoudo22 I didn’t do it but had friends who did so looked into it. 18 months a and e would do it I think. When I looked into it you needed Als and cannulation skills. The friends I knew loved it but one did have a bad experience. Really unwell people in the middle of the ocean more than a day from retrieval is pretty serious. And apparently you’re on call a lot even when you’re not working.
I guess the other issue is when or if cruise ships are running again.

I worked in the US as a home visit nurse for 20 years and loved it.
They pay a lot better too.

@FedUpAtHomeTroels was that like a district nurse? I really like the sound of that!

Yes it was like a District nurse, only it's all private. So you work for a private home health agency. They get contacted by the family or hospital when people are ill or dicharged from hospital and need nurse visits for dressings and other reasons.
Paperwork was very detailed, full exam each visit, 30 min minimum in the house, lots of buzz words and making sure there was a nursing skill for each visit. Not like the pop in pop out here. Max I could see on a busy day was about 7 due to travel between and dropping back to the office. Paid well. But as I worked part time no paid holidays. I use to tell them I was going away for x time and not availible for work and take unpaid time off.

Family member went to the states to do a year as a nurse. 34 years later they are still there.

Military nursing? Very varied and can be exciting.

Would you consider voluntary positions? I have a couple of nursing friends who run charities that always appreciate nursing help. Both very different settings. Drop me a PM if that is something of interest and I could put you in touch.

I was a Royal Navy nursing officer. Good pay but travel is limited and military nurses normally work in NHS hospitals as all the military hospitals have closed. There used to be hospitals in Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus. Overseas tours are limited for nurses these days. There were nurses in Iraq and Afghanistan but I don’t think that’s what you mean by travel! Nurses rarely go to sea.

I worked in Abu Dhabi on a year long contract. Very well paid. Very different culture! I would recommend it. The healthcare there is more American style, it was a nice change to work in well equipped hospitals which were adequately staffed.